Rev. Luke Powell Daily Devotions

Some people enjoy dwelling on the dirt in others... but will you be the type who finds gold instead? 

J. Sidlow Baxter wisely says that "one of the first things that happens to a person when they are filled with the Spirit is not that they speak in tongues, but they learn to hold the one they have!". Are your words piercing or healing people?

Perhaps the best way to heal our inner monologue is to turn it into a dialogue with Jesus. Let's turn our "I" thoughts into "we" thoughts as we journey with Jesus our friend every step of our days!

If our words are too focused on us, perhaps we are gazing at the wrong person. Jesus is to be the centre of our lives, and when he is, then our inner monologue begins to heal rather than hurt.

If you still look in the mirror and hate what you see, remember that there is a God calls you his masterpiece! He knew you would struggle, but he cherishes you anyway. Quit beating yourself up, and speak words of truth to your heart: that you are loved by a perfect God.

When it comes to the words we speak to ourselves, one danger we must avoid is pride. Does your inner monologue puff you up, or humble you? Jesus favours the humble.

Paul David Tripp wisely teaches that "no one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do.” Are the words you speak to yourself building you up or breaking you down?

A flat hike is a boring hike! The ups and downs make it what it is. Whether you're on a mountaintop or in a valley, remember that the Maker of heaven and earth is with you.

Hiking teaches you an old truth: that it's about the journey, not the destination. Are you enjoying the journey you're on now? Or is the end goal distracting you?

Hiking is much better with friends - not only more fun, but safer. Much like our Christian journey.

After a difficult hike with the wrong shoes and no hiking, Shereen and I learn a valuable lesson: be prepared. Our Christian journeys are much the same!

Shereen and I have been hiking a lot lately, and we are learning a lot. After taking a wrong turn and doing a 10km backwards, we learned to follow the signs!

A Max Lucado story reminds us that Jesus aligns himself with the victims - because Jesus himself knows what it is to be a victim.

We often get irritated with people in need, but Jesus took time for them. His parable of the good Samaritan reminds us that we can be "religious" people who still fail to take time for those in need.

Like the prophets of old, Jesus is angered when he sees injustice. Are we?

In a world where lepers were despised, Jesus had compassion on him. Are you able to value people, even those you normally want to distance yourself from? Do you recognize God in them?

Have you heard of Simeon Stylites? He lived most of his life on top of a pillar, to get away from people. Imagine if Jesus did the same! Thankfully, he didn't.

Nicole Dickson from Institute for Creative Conversation joins me today to share on the power of our stories, as we reflect on the chorus of a favourite hymn: "this is my story, this is my song"...

Inspiration from the classic hymn. It turns our that "perfect obedience" leads to "perfect rest", being "happy and blessed" with Jesus our Saviour. And so let us set our hearts on minds on things above and be "lost in his love"!

Inspiration from the classic hymn. Today we learn that "submission" and "delight" are in fact connected when it comes to God. We can find "echoes of mercy, whispers of love" throughout our days, when we submit to God.

Inspiration from the classic hymn. We are "co-heirs" with Christ - promised a wonderful inheritance from our Father. Are you living like an heir today?

One of the world's all time favourite hymns is "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny Crosby. May you receive the wonderful gift of assurance so that you too can sing "Jesus is mine" and mean it!

We close our devotions on I'll Push You as learn what real church looks like. It's not about the building - it's about the life in community, journeying together and pushing each other up the hill.   Please check out www.illpushyou.com to find out more about these guys! Buy the book, watch the documentary, be inspired...

Sometimes we are so busy looking for physical miracles, that we miss miracles right in front of us. It took the faith of his friend Justin to show Patrick what a real miracle could look like. What miracles might you be missing out on, because you're looking for the wrong one?? Wisdom from I'll Push You today.

On his I'll Push You journey Patrick discovers a wonderful truth about Sabbath: that it doesn't only have to happen once a week, but can be a daily practice in the way we respond to others. Will you be fully present to the people you come across today?